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Stuart Jackson, TyreSafe chairman, said: “With 15 million cars used over the four-day Easter holiday, and the inevitable congestion, taking time to check your tyres is an investment well worth making.

“Drivers also need to inspect the condition of their spare tyre or space saver tyre, or if they don’t carry a spare be aware of how to use the repair kit provided by their car manufacturer."

He urged drivers with a tyre issue on the motorway to pull over, stand away from the vehicle and not to change the tyres as it is extremely dangerous but instead alert and wait for breakdown receovery.

TyreSafe's message to check tyres before travelling this Easter is part of a national road safety campaign

The message

It is simple and clear - check your tyres before setting off on a long journey.

However TyreSafe advises routine checks, at least once a month, should also be observed by motorists.

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The three basic checks

ACT responsibly - check A ir pressure, C ondition and T read depth

Air Pressure – correct tyre pressures are displayed on a sticker in your car’s door shut, filler cap or in the owner’s manual. With the use of an accurate pressure gauge ensure they are right for the load as part of your pre-journey planning.

Condition – remove stones and other objects in the tread. Bulges, cracks, cuts and embedded objects are cause for concern and should be checked by a professional.

Tread – the 20p test! Use a 20p coin to see whether your tyres’ tread depths are at least 1.6mm (legal minimum tread limit). Insert the 20p at several points across and around each tyre. If you can see the coin’s outer rim at any point the tyre is illegal and must be changed immediately.

Tyre Safe also advise any spare tyres go should also go through a condition check.

TyreSafe advise motorists to carry out the three basic tyre checks before travelling this Easter (Image: TyreSafe)

What the statistics say?

According to Highways England, half of all breakdowns are caused by simple mechanical problems which can be avoided with simple checks.

Highways England says nearly a quarter of these breakdowns are caused by tyre problems.

Richard Leonard, head of road user safety, at Highways England, added: “Highways England’s traffic officers deal with thousands of breakdowns on their patrols every year.

"Frustratingly, nearly half of those incidents were caused by poor vehicle maintenance and being driven with defective tyres, insufficient oil or not enough fuel.

"With a few simple checks, drivers can overcome the risk of an incident and we can all enjoy a safer and easier journey this Easter.”